The pleasant historie of the conquest of the VVeast India, now called new Spayne
TekstThe punishment that Cortez executed for conspiracie
O vvorthy Cortes
The nexte day in the mornyng the Cholollans thinkyng that they had their determinate purpose in good readinesse, they came and brought many to carry their fardage, & other some to carry the Spaniardes vppon their backes, hopyng to apprehēd them in the same order. There came also many armed men of the most valiantest, to kill him that should disorder himselfe. Likewise that day their Priests sacrificed ten children of thrée yeares of age to their God Quezalcouatl, fiue of these children were menne, and the other fiue wemen, whiche was their custome when they began their warres: the Captaynes placed themselues at the foure dores of Cortes his house with some armed men. Cortes earely in the mornyng had secretely in a readinesse the Indians of Zempoallan and Tlaxcallan, and other friends: he cōmaunded his horsemen to take their horses, giuing them this watche worde, that when they hearde the noyse of the shotte of a handgun, that then they should play the mē, for it imported all their liues. And he seing the townes men approch néere his lodging, commaunded ye captaynes & chiefest of them to come vnto him, saying, yt he would take his leaue of them: there came many, but he would not suffer aboue thirtie persons to come in, who were the principallest, and declared vnto thē, that alwaies he had dealte truly with them, & they with him nothing but treason and lies. Likewise they had vnder colour requested that his friēds the Tlaxcaltecas shuld not come vnto their towne, & that he fulfilled therein their desire, & also cōmaunded his own men in no wise to be hurtful vnto thē, yea & although they had not prouided him of victuals as reason did require, yet he would not permit any of his men to take the value of one henne from them, so that in recompence of all his gentle dealings and good will, they had moste wickedly procured the death of him and all his companie. And bycause they coulde not performe it in their owne towne, they had prepared the slaughter in the high way, at those daungerous places whiche they had determined to leade them vnto, pretendyng also the helpe of thirtie thousand men, Souldiers of Mutezuma, whiche army stoode not fully two leagues from thence. And for this horrible and detestable wickednesse yée shall all die, and in memory of traytors I will destroy this cittie, and turne the fundations vpwardes, so that there shall remayne no remembraunce of you.
Their offence beyng manifest, coulde not be denied, and lookyng one vpon an other, their colours waxed pale and wanne, saying, this man is lyke vnto our Goddes, who knoweth all things, therefore lette vs not denie the truth, and openly before the Embassadours of Mutezuma confesse their errour and euill facte.
Then sayd Cortes to the Embassadours, you do sée that we should haue bene slaine by the Cholollans, and through the procurement of Mutezuma, but yet I beleue it not, cōsideryng that he is my friende and a mightie Prince, saying also that Noble men vsed neyther treason nor lyes, wherefore feare not you, but these dissemblyng Traytors shall be punished, for you are persons inuiolable and messengers of a Prince, whome he meante to serue and not offende, bicause he had an assured opinion in Mutezuma, to be a vertuous Prince, and one that woulde not committe villanie.
All these wordes he spake, bycause he woulde not fall out with Mutezuma, vntill he sawe himselfe within the Cittie of Mexico.
Incontinent he commaunded some of those Captaines to be slayne, and kepte the residue bounde. Then he shotte off hys handgun, whiche was the watch vnto his armye, who forthwith sette vppon the Townesmen, and within two houres slewe sixe thousand persons and more.
Cortes commaunded that they shoulde kill neyther woman nor childe: they foughte welnéere fyue houres: they sette fire on all the houses and Towers that made resistance, and draue all the inhabitantes out of the Towne. The dead carcases lay so thicke, that of force they must treade vpon them.
There were twentie Gentlemen, and many Priestes, who ascended vp to the high tower of the temple, whiche hathe a hundred and twenty steppes, from whence wyth arrowes and stones they did much hurt, and woulde not yéelde, wherevpon oure men set fier to the Tower, and burned them all. Then they exclaymed on their Goddes, who woulde neyther helpe them nor their Citie and holy sanctuary.
The Citie being sacked, oure men tooke the spoyle of golde, plate, and feathers, and the Indians their friendes tooke clothes and salte, which was the treasure that they desired.
Cortez commaunded to ceasse the spoyle. The other Captaynes that lay bounde, hearing of suche a greate destruction and punishment, most pitifully besought Cortez to loase some of them, for to sée what was become of their Gods and cōmō people. Likewise they humbly besought him to pardon them, who had not so muche faulte as Mutezuma, who perswaded and entised them to that pretended treason.
Vpon their lamentable request, he loased two of them, and the next day following the Citie was as ful of people agayne, that there séemed not one to be wanting.
At the sute of the Tlaxcaltecas who were put for mediators, Cortes pardoned them all, and sette his prisoners at libertie, assuring them that the like correction he woulde do vppon al them that should dissemble or shewe an euil countenance, or make lyes, or fynally vse anye kinde of treason toward him: wherevpon they all abode in greate feare. He made the knot of friendship betwéene them and the Tlaxcaltecas, which in time past had bin betwixt them, for Mutezuma and his auncetors made them enimies, with fayre promises, words and also feare.
The Citizens hauing their generall slayne, chose an other with licence of Cortes.
The Sanctuary or holy place among the Indians was Chololla
Chololla is a city as Tlaxcallan, and hathe but one person who is gouernour and general Captayne, chosen by the consente of all the Citizens. It is a Citie of twentie thousande householdes within the walles, and in the suburbes as muche more. It sheweth outwardes verye beautifull, and full of towers, for there are as manye temples as dayes in ye yeare, & euery temple hath his tower. Our men counted foure hundred towers. The men and womē are of good disposition well fauoured, and very wittie.
The women are Goldsmithes and also Caruers, the men are warriers, and light fellowes, and good maisters for any purpose: they goe better apparelled than anye other Indiās yet séene. They weare for their vtter garmēt clokes like vnto Moriscos, but after an other sort. Al the Countrey rounde aboute them is fruitefull and eareable grounde, well watered, and so full of people, that there is no wast grounde, in respect whereof, there are some poore, whiche begge from dore to dore. The Spanyardes hadde not seene any beggers in that Coūtrey before they came thither.
Chololla is a Citie of most deuotion and Religion in all India, it is called ye Sanctuary or holy place among ye Indians, and thither they trauelled from many places farre distante on pilgrimage, and for this cause there were so many temples.
Their Cathedrall Temple was the best and hyghest of all the new Spayne, with a hundred and twenty steppes vppe vnto it.
The greatest Idoll of all their Gods was called Quezalcouately, God of the ayre, who was (say they) the founder of their Citie, being a Virgin of holy lyfe, and great penance. He instituted fasting and drawing of bloud out of their eares and tongs, and lefte a precepte, that they shoulde sacrifice but onely Quayles, Doues, and other foule.
He neuer ware but one garmente of Cotten, whyche was white, narrow, and long, and vpon that a mantle besette with certayne redde crosses.
They haue certayne gréene stones whiche were hys, and those they kéepe for relikes. One of them is lyke an Apes head. Héere they abode twentye dayes, and in thys meane whyle there came so manye to buy and sell, that it was a wonder to sée. And one of the things that was to bée séene in those fayres, was the earthen vessell, which was excéeding curious and fine.
The hill called Popocatepec
There is a hill eyght leagues from Chololla, called Popocatepec, whiche is to say, a hill of smoke, for manye tymes it casteth oute smoke and fier. Cortez sente thither tenne Spanyardes, with manye Indians, to carrie their victuall, and to guide them in the way. The ascending vp was very troublesome, and full of craggie rockes. They approched so nigh the toppe, that they heard such a terrible noyse which procéeded frō thence, that they durst not goe vnto it, for the ground dyd tremble and shake, and great quantitie of Ashes whyche disturbed the way: but yet two of them who séemed to be most hardie, and desirous to sée straunge things, went vp to the toppe, because they would not returne with a sleuelesse aunswere, and that they myghte not be accompted cowardes, leauing their fellowes behinde them, procéeded forwards. The Indians sayd, what meane these men: for as yet neuer mortall man tooke suche a iourney in hande.
These two valiāt fellowes passed through ye desert of Ashes, and at length came vnder a greate smoke verye thicke, and standing there a while, the darkenesse vanished partly away, and then appeared the vulcan and concauetie, which was about halfe a league in compasse, out of the whiche the ayre came rebounding, with a greate noyse, very shrill, and whistling, in sort that the whole hil did tremble. It was to be compared vnto an ouen where glasse is made. The smoke and heate was so greate, that they coulde not abide it, and of force were constreyned to returne by the way that they had ascended: but they wer not gone farre, whē the vulcan began to lash out flames of fier, ashes, and imbers, yea and at the last stones of burning fire: and if they had not chanced to finde a rocke, where vnder they shadowed themselues, vndoubtedlye they had there bin burned.
When with good tokens they were returned where they left their fellowes, the other Indians kissed their garments as an honor due vnto Gods. They presented vnto them such things as they had, and wondred much at their facte.
Purgatory
Those simple Indians thoughte, that that place was an infernall place, where all suche as gouerned not well, or vsed tyrannie in their offices, were punished when they dyed, and also beléeued, that after their purgation, they passed into glory.
This vulcan is like vnto the vulcan of Cicilia, it is high and round, and neuer wanteth Snowe about it, and is séene a farre off in the nighte, it lasheth out flames of fire.
There is néere aboute this hyl many Cities, and Huexozinco is one of the nighest.
In tenne yeares space this straunge hill of workyng did expell no vapoure or smoke: but in the yeare .1540. it beganne agayne to burne, and with the horrible noyse thereof, the neyghbours that dwelte foure leagues from thence were terrifyed, for the especiall straunge smokes that then were séene, the like to their predecessors hadde not bin séene.
The ashes that procéeded from thence came to Huexozinco, Quelaxcopan, Tepiacac, Quauhquecholla, Chololla, and Tlaxcallan, whiche standeth tenne leagues from thence, yea some say, it extended fiftéene leagues distant, and burned their hearbes in their gardens, their fieldes of corne, trées, and clothes that lay a drying.
The consultation that Mutezuma had, concerning the comming of Cortez into Mexico
Cortez pretended not to fall out with Mutezuma, before his comming to Mexico, and yet he vnderstoode all Mutezuma hys pretence, wherevppon he complayneth to the Ambassadors, saying that he muche maruelled that suche a mightie Prince, who by so manye Gentlemen had assured his friendship vnto him, shoulde nowe procure his totall destruction, in not kéeping hys promise and fidelitie. In consideration whereof, where he meant to visit him as a friend, that now he would goe to his Courte as an enimie. The Ambassadors excused their maisters cause, besieching him to withdrawe hys furie, and to giue licence to one of them to goe to Mexico, who woulde bryng aunswere from thence with all spéede.
Cortes graunted vnto the request, the one of them went, and returned agayne within sixe dayes in company of another messenger that hadde gone thither before, who broughte tenne platters of golde, and a thousande fiue hundred mantels of cotten, with much victuall, and Cacao whiche is a kinde of fruite that serueth for currant money among them. Likewise they brought a certaine kind of wine or licoure made of Cacao and Centli. They enformed Cortes, that Mutezuma was innocente of the coniuration in Chololla, nor by anye meanes priuie to their dealings, affyrming moreouer that the garrison of souldyers did apperteine to Acazinco, and Acazan, who were neyghbors to Chololla, who by inducement of some naughtye persons, had procured that thing, saying that he shuld both sée and vnderstand him to be his faithful and louing friend, praying him to come forwarde on his iourney, for he would abide his comming in Mexico.
Prophecie of the Diuell
This ambassage pleased well Cortez, but Mutezuma feared, when he hearde of the slaughter, and burning of Chololla, and sayde to his friends, these are the people that our Gods said should come and inherite this land.
Mutezuma went incontinent to his Oratorie, and shut in himselfe alone, where he abode in fasting and prayer eyght dayes, with sacrifice of many menne, to asllake the fury of his Idolles, who séemed to be offended.
The voyce of the Diuell spake vnto him, bidding him not to feare the Christians, saying they were but fewe, and when they were come, he should doe what he lysted with them, willing him in no wise to ceasse from the bloudy sacrifice, least some mischance might happen vnto him. And assured hym that he should haue the Goddes Vitzipuchtli, and Tescatlipuca to preserue and kéepe hym. And bycause Quezalcouatle was agréeued for wante of bloudy sacrifice, he permitted the Straungers to punishe them of Chololla. And Mutezuma hearing this dyuelishe Oracle, and likewise Cortez hauing warned him that hée would visite hym as an enimie, he was by this perswasion of Sathan, the better willing to receyue hym into Mexico.
Likewise Cortes when he came to Chololla, was strong, and hadde at commaundemente a mightie power, and there made hymselfe stronger, the fame whereof, was blowen abroade, throughout all the dominions of Mutezuma. And whereas the poore Indians hadde but onely maruelled at their persons and furniture, nowe they began to tremble and to feare at his doings, so that wheresoeuer he came, they opened him the gates with pure feare, more than for any loue.
An euill counsellor
Mutezuma at the beginning, pretended to feare Cortes with the fearefull passages and other perils and danger, as the fortitude of Mexico, with his greate multitude of subiectes, and the great number of Princes that dyd both serue and obey him: and séeyng that all these things profited not, he thoughte to haue ouercome him with gyftes and treasure, knowyng that he hadde required golde: yet he sawe that nothing woulde preuayle, for that Cortez woulde néedes come to sée hym, wherevppon, he tooke counsell of the Diuell what he shoulde doe in that case, vpon which counsell he was satisfyed by hys Priests and Captaynes, that he ought not to warre against so fewe straungers, for if he so did, the dishonor would be his, and chiefly, bycause Cortez certifyed that he was an Ambassador, and vsing hym otherwise, it myghte so fall out, that hys owne subiectes would rebell againste him theyr Lorde and Prince, saying likewise that it was manifest that the Otomies and Tlaxcaltecas woulde fauour his syde, and also manye others, for to destroy and spoyle Mexico, vpon which consultation it was openly proclaymed, that his will was that the straungers should enter into Mexico fréely, thinking that if at anye time they shoulde displease hym, to make a breakefast of them the nexte day.
Things that happened to Cortez in his iourney to Mexico
Cortez hauyng so good an aunswere of the Ambassadors, he gaue licence to as manye of the Indians hys friendes, as listed to departe home to their houses, and he likewise departed from Chololla with some borderers that would néedes follow him.
Oh vvise Cortes
He lefte the way that the Mexicans had perswaded him to come, for it was bothe euill and daungerous, as the Spaniarde whiche went to the vulcan had séene, he went another playner way and more nearer. That day he traueled but foure leagues, bicause he meant to lodge in the villages of Huexozinco, where he was friendly receyued, and they presented vnto him slaues, garments, and golde, although but little, for they are poore by reason that Mutezuma hath enuironed them aboute, bicause they were of the parcialitie of Tlaxcallan. The next day in the morning he ascended vp a hill couered with snowe, which was sixe myles of heigth, where if the .30000. Souldiers had wayted for them, they might easily haue taken them, by reason of the great colde: and from the toppe of that hill, they discouered ye land of Mexico, and the great lake with his villages rounde about, whiche is an excéedyng goodly sight. But when Cortes saw that beautifull thing, his ioy was without comparison, and he tooke not so much pleasure, but some of his men feared as muche, and there was a murmuration among them to returne backe againe, yea and like to haue bene a mutinie among them. But Cortes with his wisedome and dissimulation did pacifie the matter, with courage, hope, and gentle wordes, and they seing that their Captayne at all assayes was the first himselfe, they feared the lesse the things that they imagined. And discending downe into the playn, they found a great large house, sufficient for him and all his company, with sixe thousande Indians of Tlaxcallan, Huexozinco, and Chololla. And ye seruants of Mutezuma made cotages of straw for the Tamemez or carriers, who were ladē with the fardage, and victuals: there was a good supper prepared for them, and great fires to warme them, and all things necessary. Thither came many principall persons from Mexico to visite him, among whome was a kinsman of Mutezuma, who presented vnto Cortes the value of thrée thousand Ducates in gold, & besought him to returne backe againe, and to haue consideration of the pouertie, hunger, & euill way, yea and to passe in litle boates in daunger of drowning. And as for tribute to be giuen to the Emperour, a greater summe should be appointed thē though he went personally to Mexico, yea and that it should be payde at what place he would apoint. Cortes welcomed them, as reason did require, and presented vnto them haberdashe toyes, which they estemed in much, & chiefly he did louingly entertayne Mutezuma his kinesman, vnto whome he made this answere, saying, I woulde gladly serue & pleasure such a mightie prince as your soueraigne Mutezuma is, if it lay in my handes without offence of the King my mayster, and concerning my goyng to Mexico, Mutezuma shall receyue both pleasure and honour rather than otherwise, & after I haue talked with him I will soone returne, likewise hunger I feare not, neyther yet doubt that I nor none of mine shall wante, and for my passage on the water, I say it is nothing in comparison of twoo thousande leagues, which I haue sayled onely to come and visit him.
But yet for all this talke, if they had founde him carelesse, they would haue pinched him as some doth say, for he gaue them to vnderstand that he nor his men slept not by night, nor yet vnarmed themselues, yea and also if it chanced thē to find in the night season any that were not of their company, they slew them out of hād, desiring him to aduise his men thereof, least any of them should happen to fall into that daunger, which would much grieue him, and with this talke they went all to take their reste.
The next day in the morning he proceded forward and came to Amaquemecan which is two leagues frō thence, & standeth in the prouince of Chalco, a towne that cōtayneth 20000. householders. The Lorde of that towne presented to Cortes fourtie women slaues, and .3000. Ducats in gold, with meate abūdantly for two dayes, and secretely made complaynt vnto him of Mutezuma. And from thence he went to another towne foure leagues from thēce, the one half therof was builte vpon the lake, and the other halfe vpon the lande at the foote of a ragged hill. There went in his company many subiectes of Mutezuma for purueyors, but yet both they and the townes men would fayne haue layde hand vpon the Spaniardes, and euery night would sende their spies to sée what the Christians did, but the watch slew about twentie of them, whervpon the matter stayed and their pretence tooke no effect: sure it is a thing to laugh at, for at euery fancie they woulde proue to kill them, and yet they were not for the purpose. The nexte day in the mornyng came twelue Lordes from Mexico, among whome was Cacama Neuew to Mutezuma, who was Lorde of Tezcuco a yong man of .xxv. yeares of age, whom the Indians did much honour: he was carried vpon their shoulders, & when they set him downe one went before with a brome to swéep the dust out of his way. These Gentlemen came to accōpany Cortes excusing Mutezuma, saying that he was not well at ease & therfore he came not personally to receiue him. And yet they entreated Cortes to returne backe againe, & not to come vnto Mexico, gyuing him to vnderstand by signes, yt they would there displease him, yea & also defend the passage & entrance, a thing easie to be done, but they were either blinded or else they durst not breake the Calsey. Cortes entertayned thē like noble mē, & gaue vnto thē of his haberdashe, & departed from ye towne wt many graue personages who carried with thē a great trayne, whiche filled vp the way well nigh as they should passe, wōdring at their beardes, harneys, apparell, horses & ordinaunce, saying to themselues, these be Gods. Cortes gaue them warning not to come among the horses, nor among his men, for feare they would kil them. This he made them beléeue bicause he would not haue his way stopped, for yt the number of thē was so great. They then came to a towne buylte vpon the water of two thousand houses, and before they came thither they had gone more than halfe a league vppon a fayre Calsey, whiche was twentie foote brode: the towne had fayre houses and many towers: the Lord of the towne did receyue them worshipfully, and prouided all things plentifully, desiryng him to abide there that night, and secretly made complayntes against Mutezuma, of many wrongs and exactions done by him, and certified him, that from thence the way was very fayre to Mexico, and al the like calsey as he had passed. With this newes Cortes was very glad, for he meant to haue stayed there for to haue buylte barkes and foystes, & yet he feared least they woulde breake the calsey, wherfore he had alwayes a care ouer Cacama, who with the other Lordes desired him not to abide there, but to procéede forward to Iztacpalapan, which was but twoo leagues off, and that the Lorde thereof was another Neuew to Mutezuma. To admit their request he wēt with them to that towne, and from thence to Mexico was but twoo leagues, the which the next day he might goe at pleasure, and come timely into the Citie, & in this order came to Iztacpalapan.
Euery two houres came messengers betwixte Cortes and Mutezuma: then came Cuetlauac Lorde of that towne, with the Lorde Culhuacan his kinsman to receyue him, who presented vnto him, slaues, garments, and feathers, and to the value of foure thousande Ducates in golde. Cuetlauac receyued al the Spaniards into his own house, whiche hath very fayre lodgings all of stone and Carpenters worke excéeding well wrought, with high & lowe roumes, with all kinde of seruice: The chambers were hanged with cloth of Cotten, very rich, after their maner. There were fayre gardēs replenished with many swéete floures, and swéete trées garnished with networke, made of Canes, and couered with roses and other fine hearbes, with sundry pondes of swéete water. There was an other garden very beautifull of all sortes of fruytes and hearbes, with a great ponde walled with lyme and stone, and was foure hundreth paces square, made with fayre steppes to discende vnto the bottome in many places, and was full of diuers kindes of fishes, and many kinde of water birds, which somtimes couered ye pond, as Gulles, Mewes, and such like. Iztacpallapan is a towne of .10000. households, & is plāted in a lake of salt water, the one half of the towne buylt on the water, & the other on the lande.